Another Man's Poison

Based on a stage play by Leslie Sands, Irving Rapper’s Another Man’s Poison stars Bette Davis as fiendish, conniving mystery writer Janet Frobisher who spins a deadly web of deceit but only ends up trapping herself. Having just poisoned her estranged husband George whose body remains in the library, she receives a visit from one of his former criminal associates (Gary Merrill) who’s there to demand his share of the loot from a recent bank robbery in which George had shot a police officer. Upon learning of George’s demise, the visitor helps Janet bury the body in a lake, but then, when neighboring veterinarian and world-class busybody Dr. Henderson (Emlyn Williams) stops by unbidden, decides to usurp George’s identity (George had been away for many years, so nobody in Janet’s circle had ever met him). What ensues is a cat and mouse game in which Janet and “George” trade barbs and attempt to out-deceive each other, especially in front of Henderson, Janet’s assistant Chris (Barbara Murray), and Chris’ boyfriend Larry (Anthony Steel) with whom Janet is having an affair; before all is said and done, we have a car crash, more poison, equine murder, and Janet’s fantastic, final meltdown. Rapper does an excellent job expanding what could have been a claustrophobic, stage-like production to include extensive exterior shots (note the gorgeous views of Janet’s mansion and grounds) and scenes set in local environs while keeping the biting dialogue that Davis in particular appears to relish delivering.